“IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

DT 4:32-34, 39-40; PS 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; ROM 8:14-17; MT 28:16-20

A seminarian after his talk during a catechetical meeting was asked by a catechist, “Brod, we have been teaching little children about the proper way of making the sign of the cross. Now, let me ask you, who invented the sign of the cross?” It was not only a question of curiosity but a very valid one. As Catholics, we have been making the sign of the cross since we were young. A day will not be complete if we do not mark ourselves with the cross. But do we know its origin? Do we know its meaning? The sign of the cross is not just an ordinary act of piety. Rather, it gives us the summary of faith. It teaches us of what we believe. It reminds us of God who is Triune – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We must make it clear that the term, “Trinity,” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, in the New Testament, we can find the terms, “Father,” “Son,” and “Spirit” like in our Gospel text for today. The term “Trinity” was coined by a Church Father, Tertullian, who wrote extensively about the subject in the third century. The mystery of the Trinity lies in the truth that there is only One God yet Three Divine Persons.

Nevertheless, such mystery is not a reason for us not to celebrate today’s solemnity. It’s true that we cannot fully understand the God whom we truly believe yet the same God has continuously invited us to be always with Him; to “remain in his love.”

Our readings today remind us of who God is; of who the Father, Son, and Spirit is. In our first reading, Deuteronomy tells us that the Father is not like the other gods of other nations. Rather, He is a God who ventures and takes “a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors.” This is the Exodus event! God is not a distant God. He is a God “who hears the cry of the poor.” He is  a God so close to us.

In our second reading, Paul tells us that it is the Spirit who leads us to become sons of God. We are made adopted sons of the Father through the Spirit thus we are able to cry out, “Abba Father!” The Spirit of God is not like the other spirits who lures us with evil. Rather, the Spirit of God is our “Advocate.” He helps us become less worthy sons and daughters of the Father.

Finally, in our Gospel, Matthew tells us that Jesus, God the Son, sends us into a mission to proclaim the goodness of God. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Indeed, believing in a God who journeys with us and who makes us His adopted children, is not meant for ourselves. Our God is a God meant to be shared. Thus, we are all sent to a task of evangelization.

God is a Trinity. God is a mystery. Yet, He is a God who journeys with us. He is a God who adopts us as His children. He is a God who sends us into a mission of evangelization. This is our challenge then, that we become like Him. Like the Father, may we also journey with other people especially those who are left out in society. Like the Spirit, may we never exclude others especially those who are not like us. Like the Son, may we also go to the peripheries and share with them the goodness of the Lord. If God is not distant with us, then, there is no reason for us to distance ourselves with one another.

As Catholics, the sign of the cross has always been part of our lives. As they say, “we become what we eat.” But it is also true that “we become what we do.” Thus, the question is, every time we make the sign of the cross, have we become like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Amen. 

Photo taken from http://www.catholicmannight.com/

NEWNESS OF LIFE AND LOVE

NEWNESS OF LIFE AND LOVE

Pentecost Sunday

ACTS 2:1-11; PS 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34;  1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13; JN 20:19-23

When something new happens in our lives, we have a lot of reactions. For example, when you learned that your son passed the examinations, you will for sure be jubilant. However, when you learned that your daughter was involved in drug related cases, then, you will be disappointed. When your husband gets promoted, then you will rejoice. But when he no longer goes home, probably, others will flare up while others will celebrate! Newness always shakes our lives because it brings us to something beyond our control. Newness leads us to worries, fears, and anxieties. How about if it is God himself who will bring us to an experience of newness? What would be our reaction?

Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday. For the Jews, Pentecost is the Feast of Weeks. It is the 50^th day after seven weeks. It is the feast of harvests (first fruits, first grain, first crops). Thus, it is a feast of newness! And it is in this context that Acts in our first reading today narrates the event of the sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” The event was something new. Those gathered were amazed with what was happening. They were Galileans yet they were speaking in different tongues. Such event then reminds us of the important work of the Spirit in our lives that is he brings us to newness of life. And so, in our responsorial psalm we cry out, “Lord send us your Spirit to renew the face of the earth!”

Now the question is, how open are we to the newness which the Spirit gives us? Are we open to the God of surprises? Or do we control everything in our lives? Sometimes we complain that our faith is boring. We go to Mass every Sunday. Once in a while, we attend Baptisms, Weddings, and Funeral Services. And that’s all! But if this is how we understand and accept our faith, then, we have closed ourselves to the working of the Spirit. This is our first challenge then as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday that we allow once again the Spirit to bring us to new and greater moments in life; to allow the God of surprises to surprise us again with his love.

Second, in our Gospel, the disciples after receiving the Spirit was sent by Jesus on a mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We too during our Baptism have received the Holy Spirit. Since, the day of our baptism until now, we are still sent on a mission. And what is this mission? It is nothing else but the mission of Jesus Christ, the mission to love. Thus, let us ask ourselves, How is my loving? Am I until now still in love? Is my heart still burning with love for my husband, my wife, my children, my work, and my community? Have I allowed the Spirit until now to inflame my heart with the fire of God’s love? Or have I fallen out of love? Have I grown cold in my loving? This is our second challenge then that we allow the Spirit not only to bring us to newness of life but to keep our hearts burning with God’s love.

Life and Love. Newness of Life and Love is the gift of the Spirit unto us today. Thus, let us follow the words of Pope Francis, “Do not cage the Holy Spirit! Let the Spirit touch your lives! Let the life giving warmth of the Spirit inflame your heart! Let the life giving breath of the Spirit enter into your soul!” Do not cage the Spirit! Let the Spirit fly and bring you to newness of life and love. Amen!

 P.S. Photo taken from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Holy_Spirit_as_Dove_(detail).jpg

A "GLORIOUS" SEPARATION

SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S ASCENSION

Acts 1: 1 – 11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1: 17 – 23 or Eph. 4: 1 – 13; Mk. 16: 15 – 20

Separations are never happy moments in life. For teenagers, “break ups” can lead them to failing grades and shifting moods. For couples, divorce or annulment cases are nightmares in their married life. And so it’s true with each and every one of us here, we do not like to experience a death of a loved one because such separation forever changes our life’s cycle. However, the ascension of Jesus Christ is the second glorious mystery. Thus we ask ourselves, how can such separation between Jesus and his chosen friends be a glorious event?

Both our first and gospel readings today speak to us about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. After three years of being together, seeing the wondrous miracles and hearing the powerful words of their Master, now it’s time for them to say goodbye. Initially, Jesus was separated from them during his passion and death. Nevertheless, such grieving turned into joy with his Resurrection. This time it’s a different story – Jesus finally left his earthly life and went back to the place where he truly belonged – his home with his Father in heaven.

However, if we recall Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John, we realize that such separation of Jesus and his disciples is temporary. In last Friday’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “so you also are now in anguish, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” Both our Gospel readings last Monday and Tuesday also reveal to us Jesus’ promise to send an Advocate after he goes back to the Father. Therefore, the ascension of Jesus is not an eternal separation. Rather, it marks the beginning of the age of the Spirit, the Advocate “who will convict the world.”

What then is the meaning of the Lord’s ascension in our lives today? First, it reminds us of our real identity – that we are all children of the one Father and heaven is our final home. Jesus left the earth because his mission to save us is finished. He has to go back to his home. And such mission of Jesus restored our identity as adopted children of the Father. Therefore, we can now reclaim heaven. We can now enter heaven. That is why whatever pain and suffering we may be experiencing at this moment in our lives, let us be reminded that all these are temporary. All these difficulties are not lasting because earth is not our final resting place but heaven, where there is no more wailing and weeping.

Second, the ascension of Jesus highlights the importance of relationships. Yes, Jesus physically left his relationship with his disciples. Nonetheless, he did not leave them orphans. He did not end such relationship which he himself established. Rather, he promised to see them again. And while waiting for his return, he sent them the Advocate. In life, it is a truth that “no man is an island.” Therefore, we need to preserve our genuine and healthy relationships that we have right now. The richest people are not those who own many shopping malls or companies in the world. But those who can still smile despite the poverty because he/she has a family, a brother, a sister, and a friend to lean on. However, there is one relationship in life which we must nurture and preserve so that everything else will take its rightful place – our personal and loving relationship with God. If you have difficulties right now in your human relationships, please check your relationship with God.

And so, in this solemnity of the Lord’s ascension, we are reminded of our real identity – we are children of the one Father and heaven is our home. We are also challenged to preserve our human relationships. But most of all, we must not forget first and foremost our loving relationship with God.

Separations are never happy moments in life. However, there are instances when we need to separate in order for us to grow. A baby has to separate from the womb of her mother after nine months. A child has to leave home in order to gain wisdom in school. A man has to leave his family in order to begin a new one. Thus, separations are necessary. They may not give us happy experiences yet they teach us how to grow and glow in this journey called life. Amen. 

Photo taken from http://whycatholicsdothat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ascension2.jpg

REMAINING IN THE LOVE OF JESUS

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10: 25 – 26, 34 – 35, 44 – 48; Ps. 98; 1 Jn. 4:7 – 10; Jn. 15: 9 – 17

It has been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. It has been our wish that she would remain forever at home because of many reasons. With her presence, food was abundant, delicious, and fresh. With her presence, there was never a dull moment in the family. With her presence, I could never see a sad face of my father. And I would like to believe that it is also the same in each one of you gathered this morning. Everyone will certainly agree that we all want our loved ones to remain close to us forever because without them life will be dark, dry, and dull.

The event in our Gospel took place on the evening before Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Before leaving his chosen friends, he gathers them together and asks them to remain in his love even if he will be away from them. Remaining in Jesus’ love means to forever stay loyal and ground their lives on him. He gives us three reasons why there is a necessity to remain in his love.

First, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.” Life has always been a constant search for happiness. We play, pray, and get a pay in order to be happy. However, at the end of the day, our souls continue to experience a lack, a gap. We ask and look for more because the happiness that we have achieved is fleeting like a bubble. Thus, Jesus is offering us the gift of himself for only through him can we find lasting joy. As the Great Teresa de Avila puts it, “God alone suffices.” Jesus’ joy is lasting because it is not anchored from the world but from his Father who is in heaven.

Second, “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” We are all into different kinds of relationships. In every relationship that we have, we see to it that it must be preserved from destruction and separation. However, earthly relationships end either because of death or other human circumstances. That is why Jesus is inviting us to remain in him because he has already called us his friends. His Incarnation was the greatest proof of his desire to enter into a relationship with Him. His death on the cross and resurrection were the proofs that even suffering and death cannot extinguish the fire of his love for you and me.

Finally, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” When we have good and pleasant experiences with our loved ones, we certainly do not want to keep them all for our own selves. We share our experiences with others. This is also true in our relationship with Jesus. As we remain in his love, we are also sent on a mission and share our fruits with those who have none. Just as Jesus shared with us the love of the Father, we are also called to share Jesus’ love to the rest of humanity.

Before we celebrate next Sunday the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven, today, we are asked by our Savior to remain in his love. To remain in Jesus’ love means receiving his joy; entering into a friendship with him; and being sent to the mission.

It has been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. Yes, she is no longer with us physically. However, I realized that until today, her presence has remained in our hearts. Every time we think and recall our memories with her, she remains alive in our lives. Jesus is also physically away from us today. Yet, every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, Jesus remains with us. Every time we gather together every Sunday to break bread with each other, we receive His joy, His friendship, and His love. Amen!

 Photo courtesy of http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1151/1295569165_386baf134b_z.jpg?zz=1